Emergency incidents may occur where hazardous materials are used, handled or stored.

Typical emergencies include:

  • fires in warehouses where pesticides are stored
  • road accidents involving dangerous goods (e.g. anhydrous ammonia)
  • chemical spills (e.g. nitric acid, styrene, caustic soda)
  • leaking containers on ships
  • ammonia leaks in refrigeration plants
  • identification of suspicious substances and the contents of abandoned containers.

Emergency planning

Preparing for emergencies and planning your response is necessary to ensure the safety of workers and visitors at your workplace. Find out more about emergency planning.

Hazmat

Hazmat is an abbreviation used to describe the release, or threatened release, of hazardous materials that may have the potential to cause harm to persons, property or the environment.

Hazmat incidents often pose significant difficulties to emergency responders and frequently require multi-agency response and technical expertise to manage their safe resolution.

Research and Scientific Branch

The Research and Scientific Branch provides assistance at all stages of a hazmat incident, from response through to recovery. It responds to any hazmat emergency when activated by Triple Zero (000) calls.

When hazmat emergencies occur, scientific specialists provide technical and operational expertise to emergency responders to help them effectively manage unidentified hazardous materials, contamination incidents, leaks, spills, fires and toxic emissions.

We have responded to a wide range of incidents:

  • testing and identification of hazardous materials (solids, liquids and gases)
  • evaluation of potential risk from hazardous materials (now and in the future)
  • possible chemical reactions
  • hazardous material properties (reactivity, toxicity and flammability)
  • public safety and environmental protection strategies.

For more information, contact Research and Scientific Branch on (07) 3909 4310 or QFES.EMPlanning@qfes.qld.gov.au

Always call Triple Zero (000) first for any life threatening emergencies.

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